Request for Proposals
SITE CONSULTANT SITE REVIEW & PREPARATION FOR KIRAG REGION
The Kankakee-Iroquois Ag Accelerator Region (KIRAG) invites site consultants to respond to this Request for Proposals (RFP) for consulting services to assist the region in preparing agribusiness parks for food and beverage processing. The KIRAG Region consists of Benton, Carroll, Jasper, Newton, Pulaski, Starke, Warren and White Counties and the KIRAG Regional Ag Strategy is facilitated by the Jasper County Economic Development Organization (JCEDO). Agri-business is a competitive strength in the region and the goal in implementing the Ag Strategy is to develop resources and policies to support the sustainability of agriculture and growth of value-added agriculture processing.
The successful consultant would be required to perform the attached Scope of Work in collaboration with the KIRAG Core Team. The consultant should understand that the attached Scope of Work is not inclusive. Consultant(s) should feel free to add to their proposal, based on their experience and best practices, additional measures that should be incorporated into the final Scope of Work to improve the overall process and result.
PROPOSAL REQUIREMENTS:
KIRAG requires consultant’s proposal to include, at a minimum:
- A Statement of Qualifications specific to the objectives of this Scope of Work
- A proposed plan of work describing how the consultant would suggest completing the Scope of Work
- A proposed work schedule including timetables for completion of the minimum tasks to be completed and invoiced no later than August 29, 2026.
- A description of the consultant’s organization and resume of key
- Cost proposal. (Special Note – KIRAG is supported by READI grant funds, and mileage and travel expenses are not allowed to be billed separately.)
PROPOSAL SUBMISSION:
Prospective consultants should submit a copy of their RFP no later than August 3, 2026, by 12:00 pm Central Standard Time to:
Jasper County Economic Development Organization
ATTN: Sara DeYoung
104 W. Washington St., Rensselaer, IN 47978
or by email to: [email protected]
Questions concerning this RFP should be directed to Connie Neininger at (574) 870-0928.
The KIRAG executive team will review all submissions and may, if necessary, invite selected applicants to make a presentation and respond to questions. JCEDO reserves the right to reject any and all proposals and is not guaranteeing that a consultant for the Site Consultant Site Review & Preparation will be hired.
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
SITE CONSULTANT SITE REVIEW & PREPARATION FOR KIRAG REGION
SCOPE OF WORK:
Key Responsibilities
- Provide an orientation meeting with the economic development directors in the eight-county KIRAG region to guide them through the steps of identifying prime sites for the target industry and how to prepare for a site tour.
- Assist the economic development directors in ascertaining their target industry sector that fits best in their county based on the raw material available for value-added processing and the type of site and infrastructure available.
- Identify which industries are the best fit for a region’s assets, workforce, and infrastructure.
- Identify the steps needed to prepare the sites for shovel-ready certification.
- Determine each site’s readiness and its competitive advantage for the selected targets to prepare them for marketing to prospects.
- Tour the target industrial parks in each of the KIRAG region’s counties with their economic development directors. Number of on-site tours not to exceed eight (8).
Coach the KIRAG economic development directors on:
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- how to market their sites,
- how to prepare an RFI, and
- how to schedule and present their site to a site consultant or company.
Deliverables
Provide a summary report of the recommendations for each county to prepare their site for marketing and promotion to value-added agriculture processors with actionable steps.